Automobile-signal



J. P. BROPHY.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL.

A\PPL|CATION FILED JAN.2, 1920.

1,369,779. Patented Mar. 1, 1921.

Z5. gvwm 1km:

J24 Era 6y UNITED STATES JOHN P. nRorHinor CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, oHIo.

. AUTOMOBILE-SIGNAL.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 2, 1920. Serial No. 348,830.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN P. BROPHY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cleveland Heights, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automobile-Signals, of which the following is a specification, theprinciple of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions. 1

The present invention, relating, as indicated, to automobile signal devices, has as its object the provision of a simple and easily operated device that may be mounted on the body or door of the vehicle adjacent the drivers seat, to eliminate the necessity for the driver extending his hand as a cautionary signal, such as is the present practice, frequently enforced by municipal ordinance or statutory requirement, when slowing the vehicle down or preparing to turn.

0 the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, consist of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but

several of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing 2- Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of my improved device specifically adapted for operation by the drivers knee; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of such device; Fig. 3 is an elevation, viewin the same from the inside of the vehicle; Fig. 4 is a transverse section, taken on the lane indicated by the line 44, Fig. l; and ig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a modified form of the device designed for manual operation.

The base or support 1 which carries the several operative parts entering into the device, is preferably in the form of a clamp as shown, which may be readily secured in desired position on the side wall of the vehicle body, or to the upper edge of the fore door adjacent the driver. Pivotally attached to such support is a signal arm 2, the size and form of which may vary, such arm being desi ned normally to lie alongside the vehicle b0 y 3, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, but being capable of being swung so as to project at substantially right angles in the posltion shown in dotted outline in said figure. The inner end of this arm is provided with an extension 4, preferably'angu- Patented Mar. 1, 1921.

larly disposed to the arm proper, and plvotally attached to such extension is the outer end of a plun er 5 that is transversely reciprocably hel in the support 1. The recess 6 in which plunger 5 is thus held is wider than the plunger so as to permit such plunger to have a lateral shifting movement incidentally to its reciprocation, and the portion of the support which covers such recess is formed with a transverse slot 7 in which a pin 8 on a block 9 lying in such recess is slidably held. Such block is in turn longitudinally slidably held in the plunger, as best shown in Fig. 4, and a spring 10 is interposed between the same and a suitable shoulder adj acent the outer end of the plunger, as a result of which the springwill. tend normally to actuate the plunger outwardly, and so tend to retain the arm 2 in its inactive position alongside the vehicle body.

' Pivotally attached to the support 1 at a point below the inner end of plunger 5 is a lever 12, the upper end of which pivotally engages the inner end of said plunger, so that, upon pressing inwardly againstthe lower free end of the lever, said plunger will be drawn inwardly against spring 10, and the signal arm 2 moved into its active or projecting position. The lower end of lever 12 is preferably forked, as shown in Fig. 3, and oscillatorily mounted between the arms 13 thus provided is a plate 14, the inner face of which is rounded and disposed so as to permit the driver to bear against the same with his knee when it is desired to operate the signal. Sto s 15 on the arms 13 serve to limit the osci lation ofplate 14 so as to always present the rounded face of the same for contact with the operators knee, in the fashion just described, and in order that the device may be adjusted for operation by different drivers, a plurality of holes 16 are provided in the support 1 for pivotally attaching the lever 12 thereto, such holes being spaced in a direction longitudinally of the plunger 5. Accordingly, with the lever attached to the outermost hole 16, as shown in full lines in Fig; 2, the normal position of plate 14 will be that indicated by the letter a, from which it is swung when the driver presses thereagainst with his knee, to position 6. On the other hand, if the point of attachment is the innermost hole 16, the plate will normally occupy position 0, from which it is moved to position at upon operation as aforesaid.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 5, I substitute for lever 12 thus designed to be operated by the drivers knee, a hand lever 17 pivoted about a vertical axis 18 instead of about a horizontal axis as in the case of the lever 13. The other parts of the device are'identical with those previously described, and the mode of operation in the case of this modified construction will be at once apparent. In other words, upon moving the free end of lever 17 outwardly from the position shown in full lines in said Fig. 5, to that shown in dotted outline, the signal arm 2 will be projected as before into its active position.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as re- .gards the mechanism herein disclosed, prosaid arm in inactive position, and a lever pivotally attached to said support and 0peratively connected with the other end of said plunger whereby said arm may be moved to active position.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a suitable support, a signalarm pivotally attached thereto, a plunger reciprocable in said support and operatively connected at one end with said arm, a spring normally actuating saidplunger to retain said arm in inactive position, and a lever pivotally attached tosaid support and operatlvely connected with the other end of said plunger whereby said arm may be moved to active position, the point of attachment of said lever to'said support being adjustable.

3. In a device ofthe character described, the combination of a suitable support adapted to be clamped onto the side of an automobile body or door, a signal arm pivotally attached thereto and adapted to lie alongside such body or project outwardly therefrom, a plunger transversely reciprocable in said support and pivotally attached at its outer end to said arm, means normally acting to retain said arm alongside such body, and a lever pivotally attached to said support and having one end operatively positioned with respect to the inner endof said plunger, a suitable terminal on the other end of said lever for the application of force to actuate the signal arm,'means for positioning the last mentioned end of said lever in one of several predetermlnable positions,

4. In a device of the character described,

and a lever pivotally attached to said support at a point below said plunger, one end of said lever being operatively positioned with respect to the inner end of said lunger, the other end of said lever suita ly terminated for the application of force to actuate the signal arm, means for positioning the last mentioned end of said lever in one of several predeterminable positions.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a suitable support adapted to be clamped onto the side of an automobile body or door, a signal arm pivotally attached thereto and adapted to lie alongside such'body or project outwardly therefrom, a plunger transversely reciprocable in said support and pivotally attached at its outer end to said arm, a spring normally actuating s aid plunger to retain said arm alongside such body, and a lever pivotally attached to said support at a point below said plunger, the upper end of said lever bemg operatively connected with the inner on of said plunger.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a suitable support adapted to be clamped onto the side of an automobile body or door, a signal arm pivotally attached thereto and adapted to lie alongside such body or project outwardly therefrom, a plunger transversely reciprocable attached thereto and adapted to lie'alongside such body or project outwardly therein said support and pivotally attached at its from, a plunger transversely reciprocable insaid support andpivotally attached at its outer end to said arm, a spring normally actuating said plunger to retain said arm alongside such body, a lever pivotally attached to said support at a point below said plunger, such point of attachment being adjustable in a direction longitudinally of said plunger and the upper end of said lever being operatively connected with the inner end of said plunger and the lower end of said lever being forked, and a bearing plate pivotally secured in such forked lever end and adapted to be engaged by the drivers knee.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of a suitable support adapted to be clamped onto the side of an automobile body or door, a signal arm pivotally attached thereto and adapted to-lie alongside such body or project outwardly therefrom, a plunger transversely reciprocable in said support and. pivotally attached at its outer end to said arm, said plunger being free to shift laterally upon such reciprocation, a block also laterally shiftable in said support, a compression spring interposed between said blockand plunger so as to normally actuate the latter to retain said arm alongside such body, and a lever pivotally attached to said support at a point below said plunger, the upper end of said lever being o peratively connected With the inner end of said plunger.

Signed by me, this 29th day of December, 1919.

' JOHN P. BROPHY. 

